DOH to receive 185k coronavirus test kits, says Mike Defensor

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) will soon receive 185,000 test kits that are capable of detecting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) within 45 minutes, a solon said on Wednesday.

In a statement, Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor, who is also the House health committee vice-chairperson, said that the rapid test kit Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 was developed by Sunnydale, California-based biotech firm Cepheid Inc.

The firm obtained the approval of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 21.

Subsequently, the Philippines’ own FDA cleared the test kits on March 26, Defensor said.

“These are the same rapid COVID-19 tests now being used extensively in America, including hospitals in the State of New York, which has the highest concentration of confirmed cases,” Defensor said.

Defensor expressed his gratitude to Cepheid that made the test kits available to the Philippines under its High Burden Developing Country Program, and to Macare Medicals Inc., a member of the PBSP, for facilitating the delivery of the tests.

His congressional office was briefed by Macare on the Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2, Defensor said.

“We are grateful to the Geneva-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) chaired by Mr. Manuel V. Pangilinan for ordering 160,000 of the tests, and the Asian Development Bank, for ordering the balance of 25,000 tests, all for the DOH,” he expressed.

Defensor added that the test kits would be delivered in “incremental weekly shipments,” with the first 3,000 tests arriving in Manila on Friday.

“All 185,000 tests will go directly to the DOH, to be deployed as needed,” he said.

He also stated that the new tests are compatible with the “automated real-time” PCR GeneXPert machines, saying that no less than 600 of those units are being used in private and public healthcare facilities. Defensor added that such units are also routinely being used by the DOH for rapid tuberculosis diagnosis in the country.

The new tests come as COVID-19 cases in the country continue to soar, with the current record at 5,453. Of the total cases, 353 managed to recover while 349 have died.